Elevating mechanism



L. L. LUDWIG ELEVATING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 28

A TTORNE Y.

Patented Feb. 2, 1926. 1

UNITED. STATES LEONARD L. LUDWIG, vor :oELAvAN, KANSAS.

ELEVATING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 28, 1924. Serial No. 688,921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEONARD L. LUDWIG, a citizen of the United States,residing at Delavan, in the county of Morris and State of Kansas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Elevating Mechanism, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in elevating mechanism andparticularly to devices for handling coal and the like wherein thematerials is first dumped into a hopper that is disposed in a pit andelevated therefrom and deposited in a bin or receptacle.

In the above installations it is desirable that the pit shall be asshallow as possible in order to avoid excessive excavation in itsformation as well as to obviate the removal of excessive storm waterfromit in use, it being obvious that the greater the depth of the pitthe greater will be its cost of construction and the greater will be theaccumulation of water in it;

The chief object of my invention is to provide a novel form of elevatingmember or bucket by which the above disadvantages are largely minimized.

Another object is to provide the bucket with novel means forautomatically closing its feed opening and another object is to providenovel means for automaticaly operating the gate which controls thedischarge opening of the hopper.

The invention is accomplished by the mechanisms hereinafter describedand illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, which illustrate one embodiment ofthe invention; Figure1 is a side elevational view of the mechanism, the hopper being shown insection; Fig. 2 a front elevational view of the same and Fig. 8 a sideelevational view of the bucket in dumping position.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a portion of the walls and 2 thebottom of a pit formed in the ground. The hopper 3 is suspended in thepit with each side inclined downwardly and inwardly toward the dischargeopening a that is preferably formed in one of its sides adjacent thebottom thereof. Agate 5 is hinged upon oposite sides of the hopperadjacent the opening 4 and is adapted to be swung upwardly anddownwardly to close and expose the opening 4. The gate is composed oftwo end plates 6 that are pivoted at their free ends to the hopper wallsand a transside walls of the bucket.

versely curved or concaved plate 7 connected to the other ends of theend plates 6. A flange 8 extends along the upper edge of the curvedplate 7 and projects forwardly therefrom to form the gate for preventingspilling of the material as it flows from the hopper when the opening 4is exposed as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. At opposite ends of thisapron are formed the fingers 9 which are below the apron and projectforwardly from the gate at a suitable angle with respect to the apron.The hubs 10 of the gate and the pivots 11 therefor are constructedsothat the springs 12 coiled on the pivots exert a friction on the-gatein order that the gate will remainin any position to which it may bemoved.

Guides 13 are suitably supported in front of the discharge opening 4 ofthe hopper and lead from the bottom of the pit to the point where thematerial in the hopper is tobe delivered.

The guides are turned toward the hopper as they aproach the bottom ofthe pit so that they will pass more or less under the inclined outerface of the hopper. The lower an apron on a cam 14 the function of whichwill be explained hereafter.

A bucket 15 is supported on theguides 13 by the rollers 16 which arerevolubly mounted at the forward four corners ofthe bucket. The bucketis preferably a parallelogram in side outline so that itsinner inclinedwall 17 will pass under the discharge opening 4 of the hopper. open anda cable 18 is secured to the bucket in suitable manner, as to a crossmember 19, that is secured at its opposite ends to the The cable leadsfrom a suitable hoisting mechanism by which the bucket is elevated andlowered on the guides. The wall 17 does not extend upwardly .to the topof the bucket but is shortthereof to form a feed opening 20 in said sideof the bucket.

A gate 21 controls the feed opening 20. This gateis curved or concavedtransversely and its end wings22 are pivoted to the inner face of theopposite sides of the bucket. The pivots 28 are secured to the wings andproject through said sides and levers 24 are secured to the projectingends of the pivots respectively. The levers extend in proper direc- Thetop of the bucket is l V :asce'nt and descent of the bucket.

tion so that the rollers 25 mounted in their outer ends will ride in theguides 13. the bucket ascends the rollers 25 follow the cam portions 14of the guide-member's I3 and the levers 24 are depressed forwardly,thereby causing the gate to rise rapidly at first and then slowly. v Thetilting .movement of the levers is continued by the cam until the gateis fully closed. The gate, then remains closed sincethe rollerscontinuously engagethe guide members13 during the p In the descent f thebucket when .therollers-25 reach the cams 14: the gate is released andgravity acts on the gatev to cause itto descend and expose the feedopening in the bucket. A I j At the,upper edgel of the gate 21 isrev'olubly mountedfa roller f 26 which is so disposed on the "gate. thatas the. latter rises it 'willabut the lower-face.ofthe apron .8 of

the gate 51 and cause the: latter gate to rise and; c o lth l OW'ofiniaterial .from the hopper... Itis'apparent that the ends ofthefingersQ, ,asfthej'gate 5 :is' closed, willtend to pass into the bucket,hence'notches 2'? are ,formedin the upper edge of the gate 21 topermitfof this movement of the fingers. Eventually the roller 26 willclear the apron 8 but by this time both-gates 5. and 21 are closed, andthe fingers 9 are now in the path ,of the roller 26 when thebucketdescends and the gate 5 is thereby opened.

NVhen the gate 5, is open the end flanges 6 thereof cause the gate to beachute, and the apron..8 spans' the gap between theedge of the'ga'te andthe bucket so. that none of the material-being fed from the hopper dropsinto the pit.

As the gate2l is caused to rise rapidly, the

gate 5 is closcdqrapidlyand the material cut off by the gate 5.. andexterior thereof is bound to fall into thebucket.

As the gate 21 rises theunaterial in the bucket will tend toslide intothe triangular portion 28 thereof that is behind the gate when thelatter is in open position.v Hence there is no spilling of thematerialthrough the feed opening in the bucket as the gate 21 rises. I

The bottom 29 of the bucket is hinged at 30 to the wall 17 for outward.inovement. A bracket 31 is secured to the oppositeior front edge of thebottom and carries a roller 32 at its outeruendwhieh rides on a rail 33suitably fixed between theugui des 1 3. The free ,end of the bracketisinclinedfupwardly sufiiciently to cause the bottom to be closed bythe-.cooperating-roller and rail. At the point where the bucket is to bedumped therail 33 is curved outwardly ,or away from the bucket sothattheroller will follow the. curvature of the .rail under the influence ofthe bottom which supports the material in "the bucket. The bottomtherehopper is inclined; inwardly and the feed.

opening? is formed in that side, that the bucket requires much.lessspace beneath the discharge openin of I the hopper than wherezthe.entire buc et-is placed beneath said discharge opening as in other priormechanism. Hence a large saving is made in the depth of thepit.

vAt the same time the, feed controlling gate of the hopper-being openedand closed by the feed controlling gate of the, bucket the. material inthe hopper will not flow from it except when the bucket is in properposition and conditionto receive it." By causing the ,buckethoistingmechanism to be automatically timedin its operation the entire mechanismmay be automatic in operatiorn p l/VhatI claim is: 1.. In fmechanism ofthe class described, a hopper having atdischarge opening in a wallthereof, pivotally mounted means forcon- Y inclined wall facing thehopper and having a feed opening. therein, the saidwall; being adaptedtozpermit aportion of the bucket to pass under the discharge opening inthe hopper, means in the bucket for controlling the feed openingand.,means responsive to the movements ofthe bucket for operating thecontrolling means in the bucket and cause the hopper controlling-meanstoopcrate simultaneously therewith. v

2.111 mechanism ofthe class described, a hopper having a discl1argeopening in a wall thereof, a pivotally mounted gate for controlling thesaid opening, a bucket adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly andhaving an inclined wall opposing the hopper and adapted to passsubstantiallyunder the hopper, the, said wall having a. feed openingtherein, a gate pivotally mounted on the bucketfor controlling the feedopening, and adaptedflo engaget-he controlling gateof the hopper for.opening and closing the latter, and means to: guide the bucket, in itsmovements and adapted to cause its controllingagate to be, opened andclosed at selected times to .cause the wall thereof, means pivotallymounted to ex pose and close the said opening and when open forming achute for the hopper, a bucket adapted to be moved upwardly anddownwardly in front of the hopper, the wall of the bucket opposing thehopper having a feed opening therein, said wall being in clined topermit a portion of the bucket to pass beneath the discharge opening, agate pivotally mounted on the bucket for controlling the feed openingand adapted to open and close the chute, guides to control the movementsof the bucket and means connected to the latter gate and engaging theguides for opening and closing said gate as the bucket is moved to causethe chute to automatically enter and pass from the feed opening.

4:. In mechanism of the class described, a hopper having a dischargeopening in a wall thereof through which material in the hopper will flowby gravity, a chute pivotally mounted on the hopper for exposing andclosing the discharge opening, fixed guides in front of the hopper, abucket adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly on the guides andhaving an inclined wall opposing the hopper adapted to permit a portionof the bucket to pass under the hopper and its discharge opening, thesaid inclined wall having a feed opening therein, a gate pivotallymounted on the bucket for exposing and closing the feed opening andadapted to open and close the chute, for controlling the flow ofmaterial from the hopper into the bucket, cams on the guide members, andlevers rigidly connected to the gate having movable engagement with theguides and adapted to be actuated by the cams for operating the gate atselected points of time.

5. In a mechanism of the class described, a hopper having a dischargeopening, means for controlling said opening, a bucket adapted to bemoved under said opening, a feed opening in said bucket, means forcontrolling said teed opening and means responsive to the movement ofthe bucket for operating the controlling means for the bucket feedopening and for causing the hopper discharge opening controlling meansto opcrate simultaneously therewith.

6. In a mechanism of the class described, a hopper having a dischargeopening, means for controlling said opening, a bucket adapted to bemoved under said opening, a feed opening in said bucket, means forcontrolling said feed opening and means to guide the bucket in itsmovement and adapted to cause the controlling means for the bucket feedopening to operate and to cause the controlling means for the hopperdischarge opening to operate simultaneously therewith.

7. In a mechanism of the class described, a hopper having a dischargeopening, means for controlling said opening, a bucket adapted to bemoved under said opening, a feed opening in said bucket, a gate forcontrolling said feed opening and adapted to engage the controllingmeans for the hopper discharge opening for simultaneously operating it,and means responsive to the move ment of the bucket for operating thegate.

8. In a mechanism of the class described, a hopper having a dischargeopening, means to control said opening, a bucket adapted to be movedunder said opening, a feed opening in the bucket, a gate to control thefeed opening and adapted to simultaneously operate the controlling meansfor the hopper discharge opening, a guide to control the movement of thebucket and means having a connection to the gate and engaging the guidefor operating the gate.

9. In a mechanism of the class described,

a hopper having a discharge opening, a .5

member pivoted to the hopper for controlling said opening, a bucketadapted to be moved under the said opening, a feed opening in thebucket, a gate to control said feed opening and adapted to engage thepivoted member for operating it simultaneously with the operation ofsaid gate, a guide to control the movement of the bucket and meansmounted on the bucket and connected to the gate and movably engaging theguide for operating the gate.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day ofJanuary, 1924.

LEONARD L. LUDWIG.

